Our fabulous mumprenuer this week is Jayne Day from the online boutique Swish Lily. I don't know how she does it with not one, not two, but three gorgeous kids AND a business with such great personal service... Jayne, please let us in on your secret!!
1. Tell us a little about yourself and your business... I am a Mum to 3 children aged 8, 6 and 4, a wife and a Mumpreneur. I own and manage Swish Lily, an online boutique for Mum, Bubs and Kids. We offer a large range of products including nursery furniture, clothing, swimwear, sleepwear, maternity wear, breastfeeding covers, bedroom furniture and accessories.
2. How did your business begin? The business began when my 2nd child was a baby and I sold my partnership in another business I ran. I wanted a business that I could operate from home around my babies schedule but to also be able to offer top quality products at affordable prices to Mums.
3. The bits I love... I love the flexibility of the business and I love the challenge of learning new skills that has been required for a retail online business. I also love being able to offer a personal service to our customers and the constant feedback from customers saying how happy they are with the service we provide.
4. The bits I not-so-love... I don't think there is anything that I can say that I don't like about the business. I even enjoy the bookkeeping side of things.
5. Any tips for other Clever Mammas? Believe in yourself and in your business idea. Understand that it is extremely hard work but it is also very rewarding and satisfying. Don’t give up when the going gets tough as you only fail when you stop trying.
6. Now the important stuff, Devonshire Tea versus Coffee & Cake? Hmm, tea and cake!
It's been great learning all things Swish Lily! To sneak a peek at the stylish and affordable (yep, it's true!) products Jayne has to offer, find her over on the Clever Mamma Directory.
Today I would like to introduce you to Jo from AIROART in Victoria. A busy mum of 3, Jo makes gorgeous and unique hand stamped jewellery. If you're a bit fussy (like yours truly), Jo will make sure her custom creations are absolutely perfect. Fancy a bit of wandering around Melbourne's crafty markets? If you're lucky, you might just get to say hello in person.
1. Tell us a little about yourself and your business... I have 3 children and am a stay at home mum. I am blessed to be able to have a career, work around my children and run the household together with my beautiful husband. I have a studio which I design all my creations and love coming up with new things, designing exactly what my customer wants. My customers are the most important part of my work and I attend Fairy Floss Markets all over the suburbs, and a few others in the near future like Mulgrave Farmers indoor market.
2. How did your business begin? Eight years ago I lost my job at Ansett Airlines as a corporate travel consultant. I decided to stay home and have my dear children. I wanted to start working while staying home with the kids and follow my dream of jewellery making. It's now evolved into what I am today, a successful business owner!
3. The bits I love... My customers and designing new things to suit different people from all around the world. Also the feedback I get when people receive their first AIROART... some cry and some laugh... I just love what I do!
4. The bits I not-so-love... Juggling the workload and finding the balance between home and work. Wanting to always spend time with family. I would love to one day have a team of people, not just me, doing it all.
5. Any tips for other Clever Mammas? Follow your dream and make anything possible.
6. Now the important stuff, Devonshire Tea versus Coffee & Cake? Definitely coffee and cake... but if the tea came with scones, then tea it is!!
Thanks a bunch Jo for letting us in on all things AIROART! If you would like to get in contact with Jo and see more of her fabulous creations visit her page on the Clever Mamma Directory over here.
This week Sarah from Commerce Therapy has taken time out say Hi to the Clever Mamma community. Sarah's Far North Queensland household is a busy one with two beautiful girls under the age of four, two acres of land complete with fruit and vegies, and to top it off, a home based business! Is there anything this super Clever Mamma can't do?
1. Tell us a little about yourself and your business... I am the Director of Commerce Therapy, a boutique business to business service providing holistic business and virtual administration solutions. Our aim is to power-up your business through holistic individual solutions designed precisely for you! Our work includes business planning, policy development, staff management strategies, business coaching and so much more!
2. How did your business begin? Commerce Therapy was developed to service the needs of small businesses. I recognised that many consultancies are intimidating, in both price and approach. What small businesses need is someone to work with them to develop their business the way they see it and focus on where they want to go. More so people wanted a real person to work with them on real solutions, not just some computerised template that is used with every client. So came the birth of stress free business therapy.
3. The bits I love... working with all the inspiring small business owners, their passion is amazing!
4. The bits I not-so-love... having to put my girls in day care twice a week!
5. Any tips for other Clever Mammas?
> Keep your passion alive, don’t give up on what you want!
> Take each step as it comes and plan your business well.
> Set goals and stick to them, even if you start small, and write them down so you are more committed to them.
> Build a network of support around you, families, friends, business networks and connections.
> If you hire a professional, advice is good, but never lose sight that this is YOUR business, and YOUR direction, not theirs!
Oh so many tips I could go on forever.
6. Now the important stuff, Devonshire Tea versus Coffee & Cake? Without fail coffee, but no cake, my hips would not like me! Plus we have an excellent coffee machine which keeps my coffee addiction happy!
We truly appreciate you sharing a little about Commerce Therapy with us Sarah! To find out more about how this business to business service can help you, check out the full listing on the Clever Mamma Directory. And remember to stay tuned each week as there are more amazing women I can't wait to introduce you to.
This week I'd like to introduce you to Alex from Zandra Warland Photography in Melbourne. Chances are, if you meet Alex her camera will never be too far away!
1. Tell us a little about yourself and your business... My Photography business has been developing for the last 12 months and has actually been doing really well! My passion is Photography and my dream is to be fully self employed! I wanted to set myself up as a photographer and work from home, with location shoots, in time for starting a family. This will give me the freedom of being able to go out for a shoot once a week or so and then edit the photos at home, while looking after little ones.
2. How did your business begin? My business began when I realised what a true passion I had for photography.
3. The bits I love... Being creative! I love the reaction and feedback I get when my client sees their photos! It gets me so excited and gives me goose bumps!
4. The bits I not-so-love... Sitting on a computer for hours editing. I'm not so keen on this side of things and would one day like to be able to hire someone to do this bit for me!
5. Any tips for other Clever Mammas? Follow your dreams! Surround yourself with like minded, positive people!
6. Now the important stuff, Devonshire Tea versus Coffee & Cake? Tea and cake!
Thanks for stopping by Alex. Love to see more of her amazing shots? I know I do! Head over to Zandra Warland Photography on the Clever Mamma Directory.
1. Tell us a little about yourself and your business... I'm an artist, illustrator and graphic designer. I primarily paint artworks on top of vintage book pages on canvas. I love painting characters with red rosy cheeks. My artworks are dreamy, whimsical and invoke the imagination. My aim with the business is to allow anyone to access and enjoy my artwork. My artworks are reproduced onto products such as badges, greeting cards, prints and jewellery. Everything is created by hand in my studio. I also work for clients and companies creating artwork for CD's, T-shirts, books, magazines... anything you can think of really.
2. How did your business begin? Mid 2007 I had no job, no career prospects, no income and wasn't very happy. I started creating artwork for the first time in over four years and put it up on the internet to show to others. It started to sell, and I've just expanded it from there. It wasn't planned and I've learnt a lot along the way, but I'm loving the journey.
3. The bits I love... Seeing someone on the street wearing one of my artworks, or walking into a room and seeing it hung on a wall. Being able to talk and engage with people about what I create. I also really enjoy the process of creating. Each painting or illustration is full of secrets and has a part of my soul.
4. The bits I not-so-love... Paperwork. Cold days when I can't wake up. Sore wrists - an ongoing problem that makes it hard to paint.
5. Any tips for other Clever Mammas? If you have a passion for something, go with it. Don't keep putting up excuses. Involve your children in your business, around your business or work out a plan on how you can balance both. Enjoy the experience as having a business can really help you cope with life in so many ways. Just make sure you are getting into it for the right reasons, and if making squillions of dollars is one of them turn around and walk away right now. Creating your own business should be a passion that you are willing to sink your heart, soul and time into. Just don't forget how to enjoy your family too.
6. Now the important stuff, Devonshire Tea versus Coffee & Cake? Neither - not really a tea or cake kind of woman. Much happier with an icy glass of water & a fresh apple.
Thanks for letting us get to know you a little bit better Ali. To delve a little bit more into the world of Ali J Art & Illustration find her over on the brand new Clever Mamma Directory here... And remember to look out for more fabulous Clever Mamma profiles each week!
Exciting times are ahead with new Clever Mammas joining us daily. We are in the midst of launching our directory, and today sees the beginning of Clever Mamma - the blog! Each week we will be profiling one of our amazing mums and getting to know her and her business a little better. We've got a talented bunch so be on the look-out out for some amazing women. If you'd like to join our community visit our website for more details, but be quick our special launch offer won't last forever.
Our fabulous mumprenuer this week is Jayne Day from the online boutique Swish Lily. I don't know how she does it with not one, not two, but three gorgeous kids AND a business with such great personal service... Jayne, please let us in on your secret!!
